Jon Snow

Biography:

Jon Snow is an English journalist and presenter, currently employed by Channel 4. He is best known for presenting Channel 4 News.

In 1981 he received the Valiant for Truth Media Award, and in the same year, the Royal Television Society's International News Award for a report on a guerrilla camp in El Salvador. In 1982 he won this award for a second time for his report, 'El Salvador: Shoot–out on Polling Day'. He also collected the 1989 RTS Home News award for ITN's coverage of the Kegworth Air Crash. 

He served as ITN's Washington correspondent (1983-1986) and as diplomatic editor (1986-1989) before becoming the main presenter of Channel 4 News in 1989. 

In 1992 he was the main anchor for ITN's Election Night programme, broadcast on ITV; he presented the programme alongside Sir Robin Day, Alastair Stewart, and Julia Somerville. (Previously ITN's programme had typically been presented by Sir Alastair Burnet, who left ITN in 1991. The 1992 election night programme was the only one hosted by Snow, he was replaced by Jonathan Dimbleby from 1997 onwards.) He has won several RTS Awards - two for reports from El Salvador, one for his reporting of the Kegworth air disaster, and two as "Presenter of the Year".

In 1995 Jon received the award for Best Male Presenter from the Royal Television Society at their Programme and Technology Awards. He has also won numerous awards for his reporting over the years including the Royal Television Society's 1979 News Feature Award for a report from Poland; the Monte Carlo Television Festival's 1979 Golden Nymph top news award for 'Eritrea Air Attack'; and the 1980 RTS TV Journalist of the Year Award for his coverage of Afghanistan, Iran, and the Middle East. 

Jon has covered a variety of momentous stories from around the globe for ITN. He reported from Germany when the Berlin Wall was finally pulled down and returned there for the historic elections in March 1990. A month earlier he had provided live coverage from South Africa when Nelson Mandela walked to freedom. Other important stories he covered include the American Shuttle disaster, the Pope's tour of Poland in 1983 and Falklands reports dispatched from Chile. In February 1999 Jon Snow interviewed Monica Lewinsky for Dispatches on Channel 4. 

In 2002 he returned to radio, presenting Jon Snow Reports on Oneword Radio, a weekly show and podcast. He writes regular articles for the Channel 4 News website, and writes 'Snowmail' - a daily email newsletter on the big stories coming up on the evening edition of Channel 4 News. Although being reputed to have said that he would rather not wear ties on air,he regularly wears loud ties and socks on air.

In addition to presenting ITN's programmes on Channel 4, Jon is Chairman of the New Horizon Youth Centre and Deputy Chairman of the Media Trust.

On 29 August 2012, Snow carried the Paralympic Torch in the relay prior to the opening ceremony of the 2012 Paralympic Games.

Snow declined an OBE because he believes working journalists should not take honours from those about whom they report.